Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-02
InELAND's AMERICAN Sons.
Preparations for an Anti-Coercion
Meeting to be Held in Savannah,


Meeting TO be Held in Savannah,
The Savannah Branch of the Irish Ma
tional League met last night at Catholic
Library Hall TO consider the holding OF
an anti-coercion meeting for the purpos g
OF protesting against the coercion bill
now before the British Parliament and TO
encourage Parnell and Gladstone in their
efforts to defeat IL and obtain home rule
for Ireland. The bill, in the eyes Of Irish
men, 10 the moA extreme and atrocIous
one ever proposed.
+. }. OConnor, Esq, President OF the
National League in Savannah, presided,
A communication WAS read from Presi-
dent Fitz Gerald, Of the National Execu-
tive Board, protesting against the threat
ened Withdrawal OF the right OF jury from
| the people OF Ireland, and cOndemnatory
OF the proposed measures of the English
government.
An appeal from John F. Armstrong, of
Augusta, Georgia member OF the
National Committee of the Irish National
League Of America, to Irishmen iE Geor-
gla, urging them to rally and give eX-
preston to their views on the threatened
measure was also read. In his letter Mr..
Armstrong charged that the malignant
and stupid Tory government of England
is at present engaged in an effort to carry
through Parliament new coercion bill
for lreland-the S7th since the act OF
Union. Mr. ParnelI describes it as the
"mOst stringent and tyrannical" ever
proposed, declares that 1t is ''uncalled for
by the state OF The country" and appeals
ito the American people for that sympa-
thy and support which they have never
withheld from a people struggling for
liberty"
"The BILL" Mr.. Armstrong goes on 10
say, proposes to deliver the people
OF Ireland, bound hand and foot,
over to the enemies against whom
they have been struggling so mantully
and effectively tor the past seven years.
There Is clause in the bill providing
that in special cases persons charged
with 0fenses under 1t may be re-
moved 20 England and tried
there. This is going back to old
times and old methods with VEN
mountaineering the last quarter OF the
nineteenth century back to the bitter
days when they carried Oliver Plunket
TO England, and, having convicted
him on subOrned testimony, had him
banged, d1semboweled aud quartered.
L earnestly nope that every city and
town in Georgia will hold public meetings
TO express the sentiment of the people on
this latest and greatest outrage and in
suit offered TO liberty, and to strengthen
the hands of Parnell and Gladstone in
their efforts to defeat this lefarlOus meas
ure and obtain home rule for Ireland. In
those cities where branches ofthe National
League are in existence the officers are
requested to take immediate steps to elicit
public opinion on these points. and follow
the matter up by making arrangements to
render material support. In the cities
and towns where no organization exists |
trust enough friends OF Ireland and Of
liberty will be found who will take the
matter In hand, so that the great State of
Georgia, from the mountains to the sea,
may speak out on behalf OF q people who
have suffered and sacrificed as much for
principle as any other upon the face OF the
EARTH"
The reading of the letter by Secretary
O'Donovan was followed by demonstra-
tiOns of applause. The date of the meet
ing to be held in Savannah was left in the
hands of committee.
DR.. J. q. Armstrong, Of Atlanta, was
unanimously elected an honorary member
of the league and made a stirring speech
In which he vigorously condemned the
threatened coercive measures of the Eng
lish government. At its conclusion MIR.
Luke Carson, who was sitting near,
turned to DR.. Armstrong and asked:
"DoctOr, are you not now IN the lie in
surauce businessY
VI am" replied the doctor.
"For now much then would you insure
the life OF Baltour, the present so-called
Secretary for Ireland?p
My company does not insure dead
men," was the quick rejoinder, and 1t was
received with great applause.
The meeting throughout was harmOni-
Gus and enthusiastic. Ten new mem bers
were elected, and the Savannah branch
Of the league now has membership of
very nearly two hundred.